Automatic turret indexing mechanism for lathes



April 21, 1953 Filed July 2. 1947 L. E. GODFRIAUX ET AL AUTOMATIC TURRETINDEXING MECHANISM FOR LATHES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Louis E. GoqfriczzzxCharles H. Johnson INVENTORSI ATTORNEY:

April 21, 1953 E. GODFRIAUX ET AL 5,3

AUTOMATIC TURRET INDEXING MECHANISM FOR LATHES Filed July 2, 1947 5Sheets-Sheet 2 g Louis ffiadjriaux N I 3 Charles H. Johnson R I a:INVENTOREI ATTORNEY.

Ap 1953 E. GODFRIAUX ET AL 2,635,326

AUTOMATIC TURRET INDEXING MECHANISM FOR LATHES Filed July 2. 1947 5Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6.

Louzlv'EGcjf Charles H. o

INVENTORfi.

ATTORNEY.

April 21, 1953 L. E. GODFRIAUX ET AL AUTOMATIC TURRET INDEXING MECHANISMFOR LATHES Filed July 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7.

' Patented Apr. 21, 1953 AUTOMATIC TURRET INDEXING' MECHANISM FOR'LATHESLouis E. Godfriaux and Charles H. Johnson, Madison, Wis., assignors toGisholt Machine Company, Madison, Wis., a corporation of WisconsinApplication July 2, 1947, Serial No. 758,500.

6 Claims. (Cl. 29---50) This invention relates to an automatic turretindexing mechanism for lathes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple powerdriven indexing mechanism for a-turret.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact mechanism Withinthe base of the turret for operating the lock bolt, theclam ring and theindexing of the turret from a single drive shaft. 7

Another object is to provide a Geneva movement indexing mechanism forthe turret in which the Geneva plate is secured to the bottom of theturret beneath the same, thereby leaving the in- ;side of the turretsubstantially open and. free for the clamping. of tool supports and thelike.

Another object is to provide a simple and more dependable mechanism foroperating the lock bolt for the turret.

Another object is toprovide an enclosed and more dependable and compactmechanism for d operating the clamp ring for the turret.

Another object is to provide a more dependable and improved clutchmechanism for operating the rotary indexing shaft for the turret and toeliminate dependence upon the movement of the Y turret carriage to carryout the indexing operation. Another object is to utilize movement of theturret carriage to initiate indexing and to utilize the drive motor forthe lathe to effect the indexing of the turret.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the description of anembodiment of the inven- I tion illustrated in the drawings.

In'the drawings:

" Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automatic lathe embodying theinvention;

"Figure 2 is an enlarged rear end elevation the lathe showing the indexdrive; 7 V

Fig. 31s a horizontal section takenon line 3-4 of Fig. 2 and showing theindex clutch and drive; i

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the trip control; Fig. 5 is a top planview of the turret and adjacent parts of the lathe;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the turret base with .the turret removedand parts broken away and.

sectioned; g

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the turret and its base taken onthe line 1-1 of Fig. 5 and showing the Geneva movement mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on broken line 8-8 ofFig. 6 showing the mecha- I nism for operating the turret clamp and lockbolt; and

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the locking pin construction.

The lathe illustrated in the drawing is substantially the same as thatset forth in the copending application of Louis E. Godfriaux, Serial No.597,268, filed June 2, 1945, for Automatic Turret Lathe, and whichissued. to Patent No. 2,565,305 on August 21, 1951.

The lathe comprises a bed Lheadstock 2, turret carriage 3 and tool postcarriage 4.

The bed I extends for the length of the lathe and is supported on legs 5with a c'hipand coolant pan 6 extending around the same at a positionspaced from the floor;

The headstock 2 extends upwardly at the lefthand end of the bed I andcontains the gear change mechanism for driving the spindle I mounted forrotation therein. A motor 8 drives the headstock by means of belt 9.

The turret carriage 3 is mounted on ways ID on bed I for reciprocationlongitudinally of the bed in a direction parallel to the spindle 1. Aturret II is mounted on carriage 3 and is adapted to be rotated on avertical axis to different indexed positions presenting successive facestoward the spindle.

The tool carriage 4 is mounted on the ways l0 between carriage 3 andtheheadstock 2 and carries a tool post l2 on a cross slide l3 adapted tomove transversely of spindle 1.

The present invention is directed to the mechanism for automaticallyindexing the turret ll upon reciprocation of carriage 3 as set forth inthe copending application referred to above.

For this purpose, the bed I has a housing It at its rear end containinga clutch mechanism l5 and trip is for indexing the turret. The clutchmechanism may beef any suitable type such as a toothed clutch such asthat shown ora ball clutch, or the like. 7

The clutch mechanism I5 illustrated has a geared clutch member I?rotatablymounted on a transverse shaft I8 and driven by a beveled gearon the rear end ofthe traverse shaft IS. The shaft l9 extends to theforward end of the lathe and is driven by the motor 8. i

The clutch mechanism l5 also has a driven element 2U axially movable onshaft l8 and keyed to rotate the shaft l8 when the element 20 is movedinto clutching engagement with clutch member I1. A spring 2| is disposedin the clutch to normally hold clutch element 20 out of engagement withclutch member l1.

aitsr a rede e mi eq g} limited" downward mov it he in hen ee rid feesat ha s the messi m i r Q e. tq vq o o rati n. b for he rs tri ped r th19a thereby s ip in The trip l6 for opening and closing the clutch l hasa bell crank lever 22 pivoted in the front wall of housing I4, with onearm bifurcated and pivoted to shoes 23 riding freely in acircumferential groove in clutch element 20, and with its other armextending transversely of the lathe in the path of movement of a pushrod 24 on carriage 3, so that when carriage 3 is retracted rear:-

wardly from a machining operation, rod 24 engages lever 22 and movesclutch element 20 into clutching engagement with clutch member l1against spring 2|.

The rod 24 is spring pressed rearwardly toward the lever 22 by spring 25disposed between a flange 26 or cross pin on the rod and a'fix'e'dsupporting lug 2'! on carriage 3, so that the carriage may have limitedmovement rearwardly after rod- 24 reaches its limit of movement inclosing clutch l5.

vThe c osing o c utch fie s driving 9 shaf 18 by shaft 'ltandthereboperatesthe'indexing .hi hapism r rre M he lu h .5 is

opened by spring zl'upon release of the lever 22 t ea s died t e 'hixih'e hi the turret T lhe release of lever may be efiected are. 'Q i e hnis h r e asin i h ei e sm p cation above refer to; {inothermeohanismrher l' j h ei ha ism s n empl ys a rip I r "time reararmjer lev rgz andsupported 'in a slot therein by a vertical spring y eirient. The arm 28normally extends above the'ilevel of arm 22 and member. enga ed by tfdpf had lgownwa'rd movement "er arm disengages it fro rod gran releasesthe latterand' also the lever 2 The trip arm 2 8 is operated to releaseclutch is b m ans o a s 9 @in' t e n rm dr 4 provided forfcontrollingthe "feeding" movements I in exing qr the'turret ,he con rel drum}xtends along the front a bed I adjacent the "path or "movement .of

strin s i a ha a l lit i hill-115ml faces 4. go esponding "tdt'h'e indexfaces of turret If and insane shire f9; enita a 9 prisesa eal" an th ear,mi afthe r the mea at e\ drum and sswnwahi vupon s me et' h at; theinqe., ie 913 93 19 i eac nst lm the inactive turret face.

.Ihe ear 32 has a 9 motion connectipn to h dru sh ft; firmi tihe-thedrumto. be curate am c sh ndexe p sition hyv means; f a shr ne Pre sed la kin it enterin a ecess 35 The in ex n bf t rre 1.1 is. effected by th Vpredetermined wtfii ongf shaft lfi at thesame time as drum 3!! isindexed. For this purpose a V shaft 39 journaled in bearings in carriage3.

standing base 49 on carriage 3.

" an operating position to which has beepin- The turret I I is mountedfor rotation on an up- For this purpose the base 48 has a cylindricalflange 4! with a vertical opening and having its upper end tapered toprovide a conical seat 42 for centering the turret thereon. A centralvertical spindle 43 is secured at the lower end on the sleeve-likeflange 4| and extendsupwardly through the bottom 44 of the turret tosupport a bearing 45 therefor.

The bottom 44 of turret II has a downwardly depending cylindrical sleeve46- fitting around the spindle 4? A cylindrical bearing member 4 1 issecured on bottom 44' for containing bearing 45. The turret II has agenerally'hexagQ'ria-lly shaped upstanding'rim fit'for the attachment ofvarious working tools for the lathe, the sides of the rim determiningthe several index positions for the turret, each with one side facingthe lathe spindle. """Iheturret I l is supported on base 419 by means ofan outer circular flange member'Mextending downwardly from bottomv 44beneath rim 48 and bearing upon a corresponding complementary circularbearing surface 53 on the base'illll The member &9 has an outwardlytapered circume tia f a e .4 a d hear n arf et -ha a correspondingcomplementary outwardly tapered circumferential flange 52. The taperedflange5 I and fig'are securedtogether'by a clan' ping ring 53' having atapered inner recess or groove ferreceiving the flanges. 4

The band 53 extends around the'turret n and base 40 enclosing'theflanges 5! endeared has its ends pivot'ally secured "to a verticallydisposed rotaryshaft 54 located in a cornerof extension base 45 anddriven directly from indexing shaft 139 by the'worm gear- 55 on thelatter meshing with re 55 oh h ffli- The vertical shaft 54 has aneccentric upper rank membe 51 s p ar ihe n ppo ee vq crank p h. 5?; ndthe hp si e e Qf an .3 ar di i y sw ar he cdr sp'o bi s' ran'k' fi and58s'0 that upon rotation of shaft 54 by themseins sha th eevehtr c ra kfi t. IQQ the. ba 5,3, re eas ng t e t r 'for in A then tighten the band5 3 to secure th The indexing r turret l by rotation of' 'shaft 81 e feced. b alG fieva hp n efit i po li' the top of e if. heeeaih' h b tta mthe turret. The Gea v'a mo /entree prisesa rotary member 59" disposedvertically in base 40 and-bf substantial diameter with aneccentric pin6!! mounted on its upper end and extending mm a cam track 6t prdvidedonthebottoin of plate 65 and shaped to eifect rotation of turret l I uponrotation of member. 59. 1

The cam track 61 is formed by a plurality of I cam plates 62. boltedtoithe bottom of plate of turret II and angularly shaped to. provide. a

; separate radial groove. or cam track sectionibetw en ach cent pla e.and a curved: roove or am ack: section joinin each pair of radial an; ai s tiohs aihah se i ach late he r ihespihd g 4.3,- Ea h. la e an;upward-1 extending dowel 63 passing through a done-- in its severaloperating positions.

sponding hole in plate 44 to take the load from the securing boltsduring rotation of the turret by pin 60.

The member 59 is disposed on a radius from the center of turret llsubstantially at right angles to the longitudinal center line of theturret so that when the turret is indexed and a face thereof isoperatively positioned facing the spindle I the pin 69 is close tospindle 43 and in the circular or curved section of a cam track.

When the member 59 is rotated the pin 69 travels from a curved sectionof the cam track to a radial section thereof and outwardly in the lattersection and then inwardly therein to the next curved section of the camtrack, and in doing so the pin 6|] acting on the adjacent plates 62causes a rotation of turret II to present the next face in line withspindle 1.

The acceleration and deceleration of the turret in its rotary movementis gradualby reason of the gradual merger of the curved and radialsections of the cam track 6| and the curved path of movement of pin 69.The pin 66 is free from stress when the turret H is in indexed positionby reason of the fact that the pin is disposed stationaryin the centerof the curved section of cam track 6| where the Walls of the track faceonly radially of the turret and there is no tendency for the pin toeffect rotary movement of the turret or to hold the same againstrotation.

The member 59 is rotated by indexing shaft 39 through the beveled gear64 on the end of the shaft whichmeshes with the gear 65 on the lower endof the member 59.

Alocking pin 66 accurately locates turret II For this purposethe lockingpin 66 is vertically mounted in base 40 and extends upwardly into arecess 61 in the bottom of the corresponding plate 62 beneath the dowel63 Where it interlocks with the plate and holds the turret accuratelyindexed during tightening of the clamp band 53.

The locking pin 66 is released, simultaneously with the loosening ofclamp 53, by means of cam 68 on member 59. For this purpose a cross rack69 is disposed radially of member 59 and has a cam follower 10 engagingcam 68. An adjustable spring H is disposed at the outer end of rack 69and biases the same toward the member 59 so that the cam 68 operatesagainst the spring in moving the rack 69.

Gear teeth on rack 69 mesh with gear 12 on a cross shaft 13 extending toa position adjacent to pin 66, and a gear 14 on shaft 13 meshes withgear teeth 15 on the pin 66. The pin 66 is supported and pressedvertically upward by a spring 16 in the base 40.

When the member 59 is rotated, cam 68 pushes rack 69 outwardly againstspring H, thereby rotating shaft 13 and pulling locking pin 66downwardly against spring 16 to release the locking pin from recess 61and free turret H for turning. A radial drop in the cam 68 near theopposite side of member 59 provides for insertion of the locking pin 66in the next recess 61 under the biasing influence of spring H and spring16 as soon as member 59 has turned the turret to the next indexingposition.

In summary, when carriage 3 moves to the rear end of bed I the trip rod24 presses lever 22 closing the clutch l5 and thereby effecting rotationof shaft [8 by the traverse shaft l9 from motor 9. Rotation of shaft I8causes a corresponding rotation of the indexing shaft 39 which thenloosens clamp 53 by means of worm gear 55 and 6 cranks 51 and 58,withdraws locking pin 86 by means of cam 68, rack 69 and shaft 13, androtates turret II to the next index position by means of member 59,eccentric pin and cam track 6|.

As pin 69 approaches its dead center stationary position in cam track6|, cam 68 lowers a1- lowing spring H to push rack 69 inwardly andspring 16 to push locking pin 66 upwardly into locking position tolocate turret II, and eccentric cranks 5'1 and 58 operate to tightenclamp ring 53 to secure the turret against further turning.

Rotation of shaft 39 is stopped by the trip mechanism I6, previouslydescribed, which effects disengagement of clutch l5 upon completionofthe rotation required to effect locking and clamping of the turret l l.

If desired, the shaft It may also be employed to index a stop rod forthe turret carriage. For this purpose a rotary stop rod TI is rotatablymounted within bed I parallel to the wayslfl. A series of stops 18 areadjustably carried by the stop rod and circumferentially spaced aroundthe same to provide a separate stop disposed vertically above the rodfor each operativeface of the turret l I.

A stop strap 19 is, disposed on carriage 3 to engage the operative stopI8 and prevent further forward movement of the carriage. Preferably thestops 18 are positioned to allow stopping of the carriage feed by thecam control on drum 36, and the stops are only employed for emergencypurposes. The feed of carriage 3 being hydraulic, the stops 16 functiondirectly as abutments preventing further feed of the carriage beyond thepredetermined point set.

The stop rod 11 is rotated to present successive stops [8 in operativeposition in correlation to the indexing of the turret II. This isaccomplished by the worm gear 86 on vertical shaft 36 meshing withintermediate gear 8| mounted for rotation in housing l4 and which in.turn drives gear 82 on the rear end of the stop rod 11. The gearreduction provided is suchas to effect turning of stop rod 11 throughapproximately one-sixth of a revolution when turret II is turned thesame angular amount.

The invention provides a power indexing mechanism that relieves thecarriage drive of load during indexing and efficiently and accuratelyeffects all of the movements required in a short time cycle and apredetermined sequence and correlation.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope ofthe claims.

We claim:

1. In an automatic turret lath having a bed with a headstock at one endand a turret carriage thereon adjacent the other end, a housing at theend of said bed adjacent said carriage, a rotary shaft extending intosaid housing from the opposite end of the bed, a turret indexingmechanism carried by said turret carriage, drive mechanism disposed insaid housing, a splined shaft connecting said drive mechanism to saidindexing mechanism, and clutch mechanism in said housing for operatingsaid drive mechanism from said rotary shaft in correlation to themovement of said carriage.

2. In an automatic turret lathe having a bed with a headstock at one endand a turret carriage thereon adjacent the other end, a housing at theend of said bed adjacent said carriage, a rotary shaft extending intosaid housing from awe -s26 the opposite end. of the bed,v a turret;indexin mechanism carried by said turret carriage, drive mechanismdisposed: in said housing and tele scopicailly connected to saidindexing mechanism to drive the same, clutch mechanism in said housingfor operating said drive mechanism from said rotary shaft, and meansautomatically onerati-rig": said clutch mechanism in response tothe'movement ofsaid turretcarriaget In an automatic turret lathe havingabed a headstock at one end and a turret carria'ge thereonadjacent theother end; a housin at the end of said bed adjacent said carriage,rotary shaftextending" into said housingv from the opposite end of thebed; a turret indexin mechanism carried: said turret carriage; drivemechanism disposed in said housing and telescopically connected to saidindexing mechanism to drive: the same, clutch mechanism in said housingfor operating said drivemechanism from said rotary shaft, a lever insaid housing for opiatin'g: said: clutch mechanism in response to' therearward movement of said carriage to index the turret and an automatictrip for releasin sai'dlever and-opening the clutch upon apredeterminect operation ofsaid drive mechanism sufficient to completethe indexing ofthe turret.

In alathe; a-turret, a bed, a carriage movon said bed androtatablysupporting said it ret; a locking pin for said turret, a clamp11in" ton-said: turret; indexing means for said 1: includingsubstantially vertical stub ts supported in said carriage for operatings" d locking pin; clamp ring and indexing means, a ousingat the end ofsaid bed adjacent said damage, a singlesubstantially horizontal indexingshaft extending" into said: carriage from said Housing: and: carrying"longitudinally: spaced gears for operating said stub shafts, clutch anddrive supported in said housing to operate said in gs'liaift and meansoperated by movemm of said carriage to" operate said" clutch incorrelation:- to" the operatingc'yolc of: said car'- raga V 5 Ifi a-lathe; aturrefia bed, a carriaghmov '2701 on s'aid b'ed and rotatablysupporting said turret} alookin'g pin for said turret, a clamp ring forsaid turret, indexin means for Said tu t including Stub shafts"suppor-ted in said ca age-rot operating said locking pin, clamp ring"and turret, a single indexing shaft extendinginto said carriage tooperate said stub shafts, clutch and drive means supported on said-fledto' operate said indexing shaft, means operated inresponse to movementof saidcarriage to 9g;- erate sai'dclutch in correlation to; theopera-ting cycle ofsaid carriage; and variable rotary stop meansoperated bythe drive means to regulate predetermined cyclic movement ofsaid carriage.

6. In a lathe,- a turret, a bed, a carriage mov} able onsaid bed androtatably supporting: said turret, a locking pin for said turret; aclainp ring for saidturret, a Geneva movementdis posed beneath theturret to rotate the same; to its severalin'dexed positions, apairof--substanmany vertical stub shafts in said; carriage;eccentricscarried by said stub shaftsto respectively operate said clamprin and Geneva movement, a cam carried by the stub shaft; for saidGeneva; movement tooperate saidlqckin pina: single: substantiallyhorizontal indexing shaft extending into said carriage and carry ing/longitudinally spaced gears tooperatesaid stub shafts; clutch and drivemeans supported on saidbed to operat saidindexing shaft, and meansoperated in response' to movementof said carriage to operate said clutchin eorrelati-on' to the opera-ting cycle: of said: carriage;

GHARLES" H; i J OHN SGN.

asset-smegonea inthe file of" this patent nNITEn sT'AsE's PATENTS NumberName fiate.

wages Richards Apr: 25; 1893 707,32 I lormby s Aug. 19, 1 902 eel-naeRotter et al. 9, 159111 imse Better et a1. seen. 39,1913 1,099,308Millholland une of, 1314 a gees Chapman Feb. 19; i924 1,813,4 9 Qlassury" 7, 193-1 l,9 -3 4;,3 Kylin Ndvlfi', 1933 1 9611 522 lienningeramiss; I934 1 938 675 r ssk Jan. 2 2, i935 aoi lase Igi'n sb'ur Aug; 13;1935 arises; s eam 8, 19538 235 2593; qodfriaux s'ept; is, 11944 asazzs; Qasella et all Jan; 19 46 2,395,696 Sundt Feb; 2*6, 1"9 16

